Licensed Clearwater psychologist uses power of hypnosis

One technique Wendy Lemke uses in clinical hypnosis might be to focus on the space between one’s fingers to help induce a trance state that can be beneficial in helping people heal. Lemke, a licensed psychologist with an office in Clearwater, talked <137>Thursday,<137> Aug. 7 about how she finds hypnosis useful in treating things such as anxiety, depression, trauma and sexual disorders.(Photo: Kimm Anderson, kanderson@stcloudtimes.com)

CLEARWATER – As Wendy Lemke leans back in her office chair, her right thumb and index finger touch.

Once she notices the hand movement, Lemke pauses and smiles.

"This became conditioned with a comfortable, calm, confident state," explained the licensed psychologist.

The ability to help others reach that state made Lemke the recent recipient of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis presidential award and the Minnesota Society of Clinical Hypnosis Daniel Kohen, M.D. Outstanding Clinician Award.

She's respected by her colleagues. She's previously served as vice president of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. She has traveled around the country to share her expertise.

But without her self-hypnosis, she wouldn't have been able to accomplish many of her achievements.

"I had severe speech anxiety — I would've never imagined that I would go across the country and teach other clinicians because I would stutter," said Lemke, who earned her undergrad and graduate degrees at St. Cloud State University.

Through hypnosis, Lemke's simple hand movement of touching her thumb and index finger together relieves anxiety.

She finds herself doing it subconsciously.

"You can talk cognitively but with clinical hypnosis you can have an experience," Lemke said. "We learn better from experiences — they stick better. I can take someone on a mental vacation and they don't even have to pack a suitcase.

"It's about getting in touch with a really calm, comfortable state and learning how to access that state in just a couple of minutes."

Lemke said she uses clinical hypnosis with about 80 percent of her clients.

She is quick to warn that clinical hypnosis can't be the only method used in therapy.

"I think Wendy is really smart and has good intuition," said Dave Wark, a psychology professor at the University of Minnesota. "She reads the signals and knows what's going on. She's absolutely fearless and not afraid to tackle difficult problems."

Lemke was trained in clinical hypnosis by Wark and former St. Cloud State psychology professor David Lesar.

She quickly learned the significance of hypnosis in a clinical setting as opposed to entertainment.

With each clinical hypnosis client, Lemke goes over myths and misconceptions. And there's no pendulum used.

"From the media, there's this belief that hypnosis is a magic cure-all and that you will be put to sleep and you don't remember what happened," Lemke said. "In reality with hypnosis, we all go in and out of trance states. When you are driving on I-94 and you think 'Did I go through Monticello or not?' — that's highway hypnosis.

"We have a conscious mind and an unconscious mind. The state of hypnosis is really about being very focused and very absorbed."

Wark added: "The brain interacts with hypnosis similar to meditation, mindfulness and some kinds of prayer."

Lemke said most athletes use some sort of hypnosis. When people use imagery, they use the part of their brain associated with that act.

She also emphasizes that she doesn't want to quickly eradicate an issue or bad habit with hypnosis.

Instead, she considers her efforts a renegotiation.

"There a reason it's an issue," Lemke said. "You have to be careful how you approach things."

And Lemke's own personal triumphs are proof that the right approach can produce results.

"My favorite quote comes from Albert Einstein: 'Logic can get you from A to B, but your imagination will take you anywhere,' " Lemke said. "Hypnosis isn't a 'come in for one session and it's fixed.' It's a tool we add to our clinical toolbox. And it can be a really powerful tool."